Riley's family came along to his cake smash session last month, and what a messy one it was!

As usual we started with some family pictures, and pictures of Riley with his older brother and sister - Riley wasn't interested in the slightest, and so I brought out my favourite props in the hopes we could at least keep him on the backdrop long enough to get a couple of snaps!

My stool (a favourite among many babies!) worked for the briefest period, before Riley discovered he could climb off it and escape to raid the prop box ;)

Up next was Bertie, my little red racing car, and Riley loved it so much he even licked the steering wheel! We managed to get a lovely smile out of him though.

I then set up for the cake smash part of the session (my favourite bit!), and then we let Riley loose!

I think there's still chocolate cake hidden somewhere in the studio; that stuff went eeeeverywhere! That's all part of the fun though!

Once the cake had been smashed to smithereens, Riley had a quick splash in my tub in between trying to climb out, and that was his session all finished!

Riley and his family came back for their viewing last week and these are their favourite images from his session, and I hope you like them too!

Little Cherubs is five this month!

It's amazing what can happen in a few short years; I started Little Cherubs as a hobby page, when my eldest was almost one. I photographed many friends and their children, and worked in hospitals taking pictures of newborn babies, and not once did I ever think I'd be doing what I am now!

I'd spent years studying photography - but I didn't know what I wanted to do with it, I was the person that smiled at babies in passing and make them cry, and had no idea how to interact with children!

Daisy (above), changed that and being thrust into the crazy world that is motherhood soon built my confidence with babies and children.

I became ill in 2014, and had to leave my job whilst i recovered and it was then that I realised that maybe Little Cherubs Photography could be a *thing*, that maybe I could make something from my love of photography - and babies!

Let me tell you something - starting a business with no idea of how to actually run a business is hard! I found a group of lovely helpful ladies (which has grown exponentially and has some of the loveliest and helpful people you'll find anywhere) and with some research and help, I not only have a business, I'm running a specialist newborn and baby photography studio.

​Here are a few of my favourite images from some of my latest sessions:

Newborn and Cake Smash Photographer

My most popular sessions are newborn and cake smashes, and it's that reason that I decided to celebrate our birthday (and one year studio anniversary!) with a special discount on my Watch Me Grow milestone package, and offering a free 'sitter' session (a photo shoot once baby can sit confidently and before they start moving) with any standalone newborn photography session booking.

Watch Me Grow - for just £95, you can have a newborn session (when baby is between 7-21 days old), a sitter session at 6-9 months and then a one year portrait session to celebrate baby's first birthday - each session includes a 12x8 print and you can upgrade the last session to a cake smash for an additional £20. These sessions are not only lovely for families, they are amazing for me - I love watching families adapt and grow with their new baby!

One of the many tasks to tick off your pre-baby checklist is The Hospital Bag. For those who aren't aware of what this is, it's your (and don't forget one for baby - I'll cover that another time) overnight bag (pack for a few nights just in case) for when you go into hospital to have your baby.

​So what should you pack in your bag? It's easy to forget things as you pack, you will remember things like clothes for you and baby, but what about the rest? I asked some new mums for their 'must have' hospital bag essentials:​

Phone charger - once baby has arrived and you've told everyone, expect your phone to be ringing off the hook, and using valuable battery power. Also, unless you bring a separate camera, your phone will be what you capture your baby's first moments with.

Post partum pads - LOTS of them! If you think you have enough, add another pack! Nobody ever talks about post partum bleeding, but you can expect a lot in the first few days after you've had your baby.

Following on from this, treat yourself to some Bridget Jones knickers! You won't be worrying about how they look, and it's important to stay comfortable after your baby has been born; the elastic will sit above any possible c section scar too!

Slippers - you're not usually allowed to walk around barefoot in hospital, so get yourself some nice slippers that are easy to put on and keep your feet toasty.

Wash bag - don't bother with mini bottles of shampoo etc, either get some travel bottles and fill them at home or take full size bottles with you. Find something that's gentle on delicate skin and smells nice too, you'll feel amazing after that first post-baby shower!

Hair bands - you probably won't have time (or energy) to do your hair, so to keep it out of your newborns hands and face, a ponytail is a favourite hairstyle among new mums!

Something to read - whether it be a book, a magazine or an ebook, you'll spend a fair amount of time feeding baby or resting in bed, and something to read helps pass the time.

Lipbalm - hospitals are warm, and you may find you have dry lips (especially if you used gas and air), so a nice lip balm can do you the world of good.

Breast pads - your milk may not come in straight away, but you might find you start leaking soon after baby has arrived, so have breast pads packed next to your nursing bras ready.

Snacks - some hospitals have a day room with a small selection of snacks, or a little kitchen where you can make some toast for yourself, but it's always good to have a personal supply too. If you're not a huge fan of tap water, bring a small bottle of squash with you too, you'll need to drink plenty of fluids to keep your energy up.

Do you have any other must have items to pack in your hospital bag? Please let me know in the comments!